Reasoning from prophecy, Christ gave His disciples a correct idea of what He was to be in humanity. Their expectation of a Messiah who was to take His throne and kingly power in accordance with the desires of men had been misleading. It would interfere with a correct apprehension of His descent from the highest to the lowest position that could be occupied. Christ desired that the ideas of His disciples might be pure and true in every specification. They must understand as far as possible in regard to the cup of suffering that had been apportioned to Him. He showed them that the awful conflict which they could not yet comprehend was the fulfillment of the covenant made before the foundation of the world was laid. Christ must die, as every transgressor of the law must die if he continues in sin. All this was to be, but it was not to end in defeat, but in glorious, eternal victory. Jesus told them that every effort must be made to save the world from sin. His followers must live as He lived, and work as He worked, with intense, persevering effort.

Ved at gå ud fra profetierne gav Kristus sine disciple den rette opfattelse af, hvordan han skulle være i sin menneskeskikkelse. Deres forventning om en Messias, som skulle erobre sin trone og kongelige magt i overensstemmelse med, hvad mennesker ønskede, havde været vildledende. Det ville komme i modstrid med den rette forståelse af hans nedstigen fra den højeste til den laveste stilling, man kunne indtage. Kristus ville, at hans disciples forestillinger om ham skulle være rene og sande i alle henseender. De måtte, så vidt som det var muligt, få forståelse af den lidendes kalk, som var bestemt for ham. Han viste dem, at den frygtelige kamp, som de endnu ikke kunne fatte, var opfyldelsen af den pagt, der var sluttet, før verdens grundvold var lagt. Kristus måtte dø, ligesom enhver overtræder af loven må dø, hvis han fortsætter med at synde. Alt dette måtte ske, men det skulle ikke ende med nederlag, men med en herlig og evig sejr. Jesus sagde til dem, at der måtte sættes alt ind på at frelse verden fra synden. Hans efterfølgere måtte leve, som han havde levet, og arbejde, som han havde arbejdet, med kraft og vedholdende bestræbelse.